photo by: Shawn Linenberger

The Ferris wheel towers over the rest of the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds skyline during the 2014 fair in Tonganoxie. The local fair dates back to the 1920s.

It’s been 90 years since the first installment of the Leavenworth County Fair.

The first year, 1926, was a celebration of a bumper crop of corn in downtown Tonganoxie, and the next year it was corn and apples. The event officially was known as the Leavenworth County Fair in 1928 and in 1938 moved from downtown to its current site along Kansas Highway 16 at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds.

For fair board president Mike Johnson, the event has been a part of his life for more than 50 years.

“I started 4-H in 1964, so a day or two,” Johnson said with a laugh. His family has been a part of Glenwood 4-H Club for generations.

Johnson recalled how the fair has changed through the years, noting it’s become a more urbanized event. There still are a number of livestock entries every year, but with them have come rocketry, photography and others.

“Farm implement dealers brought tractors up with plows behind them,” Johnson said about fairs in the 1960s and 1970s. “Now, you don’t really have any of that at the fair.”

Since then, open class exhibits such as cooking and sewing have become bigger.

This year’s fair runs July 26-30 at the fairgrounds in Tonganoxie.

Festivities begin with an opening ceremony at noon July 26, with Tonganoxie VFW Post 9271 presenting colors and the Tonganoxie High School Band performing.

The first major event of fair week actually is in downtown Tonganoxie with the annual fair parade. This year’s theme is Decades of Horsepower.

Other highlights of the fair in the evenings are the Draft Horse Pull at 8 p.m. July 26 at the grandstand, singer David Patton performing at 7 and 9 p.m July 27 under the Big Top, the horse show at 6 p.m. Thursday in the horse arena and the garden tractor pull at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the grandstand.

On Friday, Senior Day at the Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. under the Big Top and throughout the fairgrounds, while pie baking contest judging starts at 1 p.m. in the administration building. The 50th annual livestock auction starts at 6:30 p.m. in the show arena, and the Tuff Truck competition begins at 7:30 p.m. in the grandstand.

On the final day of the fair, July 30, the mud run opens at noon near the Tonganoxie Recreation Commission ball fields, turtle races start at 1 p.m. under the Big Top, the Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull is at 3 p.m. in the show arena and a youth dance kicks off at 6:30 p.m. in the show arena. The Bull Bash starts at 7:30 p.m. in the grandstand area.

A petting zoo, pony rides, games, concessions and carnival rides — including unlimited rides available for $22 each night — are nightly attractions.

During every day of the five-day event, 4-H/FFA and open class exhibits and commercial exhibits will be available to the public.

Johnson said the Tuff Stuff competition was a new attraction for this year’s fair.

Trucks will make their way through the grandstand arena course, but all-terrain vehicles and other four-wheel variations will race through the course. A monster truck will make an appearance at the competition also.

Parking is $4 and a free shuttle service will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each day.

The fair has had its share of changes since 1926, but it has grown to be a big annual attraction in Tonganoxie.

Like other aspects of the event, food offerings have changed through the years.

Johnson recalled that years ago a group took milk from the dairy cows shown at the fair and eggs from the chickens to help make ice cream that was sold as a fundraiser during the fair.

The ice cream at this year’s fair won’t be quite the farm-to-table version of years past, but several food options are available at the fairgrounds’ food court and nearby food buildings.

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 26

Noon

Opening Ceremony. Colors presented (at flag pole) by Tonganoxie VFW Post 9271 and Tonganoxie High School Band.

6 p.m.

• Fair photo contest. Entries due (Administration Building).

4-H/FFA and Open Swine Show and Showmanship Judging (Show Arena)

6-10 p.m.

• Armband Night at the Carnival ($22 each to ride unlimited rides each night).

6:30 p.m.

Leavenworth County Fair Parade through downtown Tonganoxie. Parade theme: Decades of Horsepower. Parade entries due July 18. For more information, call Bill Seymour at 913-449-8012) or Karen Seymour (913-645-9982). Entries due Tuesday, July 19.

7 p.m.

• Fair photo contest judging (Administration Building)

8 p.m.

Al Dyer Memorial Draft Horse Pull (Grandstand). Contact: Mike Johnson, 913-724-2466.

Wednesday, July 27

9:30 a.m.

• Tractor operators event (Check in at 4-H Office). Open to anyone 12 years of age or older.

or Operato

10 a.m.

• 4-H/FFA and open class poultry showmanship judging (Poultry Barn)

12:30 p.m.

4-H bucket calf fitting and showmanship judging (Livestock Show Arena).

2 p.m.

4-H/FFA and open class poultry show (Poultry Barn).

4 p.m.

4-H/FFA and open class market and other goat show (Show Arena).

6-10 p.m.

• Armband Night at the Carnival ($22 each to ride unlimited rides each night).

7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Musical entertainment by David Patton (Under the Big Top).

Thursday, July 28

8 a.m.

• 4-H/FFA and open class rabbit show and showmanship judging (Rabbit Barn).

9 a.m.

4-H/FFA and open class beef cattle show and showmanship judging (Livestock Show Arena).

4 p.m. or immediately following beef show

4-H/FFA and open class dairy goat show and showmanship judging (Livestock Show Arena).

5:30-8:30 p.m.

4-H Canned Food Drive sponsored by County Wide 4-H Junior Leaders (West Fair Gates and 4-H Food Stand).

6 p.m.

4-H/FFA and open class dairy cattle show and showmanship judging (Livestock Show Arena).

Leavenworth County Fair Open Horse Show (Horse Arena)

7:30 p.m.

Hot Rod Garden Tractor Pull (Grandstand). Canned good donation appreciated for entry fee. Call Richard Bereer of Renegade ullers Midwest at 785-213-5601.

Friday, July 29

8 a.m.

Livestock Showmanship Round Robin (Livestock Show Arena).

10 a.m.

Livestock Judging Contest, open to anyone (Show Arena).

10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Senior Day at the Farm, sponsored by the Leavenworth County Council on Aging (Under the Big Top). No cost to seniors.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Ag Challenge of Champions (4-H Office). Open to everyone, the challenge is a skill-a-thon to test one’s overall agriculture knowledge.

1 p.m.

Pie baking contest (Administration Building, near photography and quilt exhibits). Contact Patty Scharinger at 913-651-0271 or Crystal Miles, 785-843-2556 with your questions.

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Buyer’s reception for livestock show (Livestock Show Arena). Refreshments served to 2015 livestock buyers.

6-6:15 p.m.

• 4-H Spirit Awards, Agriculture Challenge of Champions and 4-H Scholarships Announced (Show Arena).

7 p.m.

50th Annual 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction (Livestock Show Arena).

7:30 p.m.

Tuff Truck Competition (Grandstand). Admission: $10 adults, $5 for youths ages 6-12; free for youths 5 and younger. More information: Joe Hibbert, 620-255-1531, outlawpromotions.com.

Saturday, July 30

10 a.m.

Ag Olympics (Under the Big Top Tent)

10 a.m.-noon

4-H dog show agility classes (Show Arena)

Noon

Mud run (North field). Admission: $10 adults, $5 for youths ages 6-12, free for youths 5 and younger. More information: John Richardson, 786-418-2171, KSmudboggers.com.

1 p.m.

Turtle races (Under the Big Top).

2 p.m.

• Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull registration (Livestock Show Arena)

3 p.m.

Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull (Livestock Show Arena).

Watermelon eating contest (Livestock Show Arena). North end of arena.

6:30 p.m.

Youth dance (Livestock Show Arena). Admission benefits the Memorial Gardens at the fairgrounds. Sponsored by the Leavenworth County Fair Board.

7:30 p.m.

Bull Bash (Grandstand). Admission: $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and younger. For rules, regulations and registration, contact Brandon Betsworth at 816-876-5920.